A new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds just 43% of Americans approve of the way President Obama is handling the economy. However 46% say they trust Obama on the issue as compared to 34% who trust Republicans.

"What's more, by a 9-point margin Americans now see Obama as better able to handle the deficit than GOP lawmakers in Congress. That represents an 11-point drop for the GOP since December -- a period when Republicans have made cutting federal spending a centerpiece of their agenda."